Blueberry plant named ‘RB A097’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘RB A097’ is provided. ‘RB A097’ is a commercial low chill tetraploid southern highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium ) variety intended for the fresh fruit market. Thus, ‘RB A097’ is best suited for production in low chill climates similar to Southern Spain.

Botanical/commercial classification:

Latin name—Vaccinium corymbosum L.

Common name—Blueberry Plant.

Varietal denomination—‘RB A097’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Community Plant Variety Rights Application Number 2021/0333 which was filed in European Union through Community Plant Variety Office on Jan. 29, 2021, of which the content of is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct variety of southern highbush blueberry, botanically known as Vaccinium corymbosum L. and herein referred to as ‘RB A097’. The new and distinct blueberry variety was the product of a controlled cross pollination carried out in Almonte, Huelva, Spain in 2006. The female parent (i.e. seed parent) was the proprietary variety ‘Rocio’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,374). The male parent (i.e. pollen parent) was the unreleased proprietary selection ‘S124’. The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: ‘Rocio’ x ‘S124’.

‘RB A097’ was selected on the same location in 2013 for its early fruit ripening, high yield potential and excellent fruit quality characteristics. It was initially propagated by softwood cuttings from the original seedling in the same year and planted in first trials in 2014. Since then the new variety ‘RB A097’ has been reliably propagated asexually by softwood cuttings and was found to be stable.

‘RB A097’ is a tetraploid southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium) variety with a chill requirement of below 300 hours. It is best suited for production in low chill climates similar to Southern Spain. ‘RB A097’ is intended for the fresh fruit market.

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed in plants of the variety ‘RB A097’ growing in Almonte, Huelva, Spain and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new blueberry plant variety ‘RB A097’:

-   -   (a) exhibits an early fruit ripening,     -   (b) a very high yield potential;     -   (c) a very good flavor.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. The new variety possesses characteristics that commonly are sought by commercial blueberry growers. Accordingly, the new variety is considered promising for commercial introduction.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. When compared to its female parent, the proprietary variety ‘Rocio’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,374), ‘RB A097’ has a longer harvest period, higher yields, lower firmness and a higher sugar-acid-ratio. When compared to its male parent, the proprietary selection ‘S124’, ‘RB A097’ has an earlier harvest start, larger fruit size, lighter fruit color, higher firmness, a better picking scar and better flavor. The new variety can also be readily distinguished from non-parental related similar varieties. When compared to the southern highbush blueberry variety ‘New Hanover’, ‘RB A097’ has a large fruit size while ‘New Hanover’ fruit size is medium. When compared to the southern highbush blueberry variety ‘Suziblue’, ‘RB A097’ has a light blue fruit skin color while “Suziblue’ skin color is dark blue. When compared to the highbush blueberry variety ‘Legacy’, ‘RB A097’ has an early fruit ripening while ‘Legacy’ produces fruit in late season.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens in full color of the foliage, flowering and fruit of the new variety of ‘RB A097’ in Almonte, Huelva, Spain. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type. The color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new blueberry variety.

FIG. 1—a photograph of 3 year old plants of ‘RB A097’ during flowering and fruit formation. It displays the overall bush shape and vigor.

FIG. 2—a photograph showing a 3 year old plant of ‘RB A097’ during flowering and fruit formation. It displays the overall bush shape, leaf color and, structure and color of mature canes.

FIG. 3—a photograph of fruit clusters of ‘RB A097’ during fruit ripening, showing the presentation of the fruit and cluster density.

FIG. 4—a close-up photograph of a flower cluster of ‘RB A097’, showing the size, shape and color of floral buds in different stages.

FIG. 5—a close-up photograph of a flower cluster of ‘RB A097’, showing the size, shape and color of closed and open flowers.

FIG. 6—a close-up photograph of fruit clusters of ‘RB A097’, showing the size, shape and color of ripe and unripe fruit in different stages.

FIG. 7—a close-up photograph of harvest fruit of ‘RB A097’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The botanical description reported herein were taken in Almonte, Huelva, Spain on 2 to 3-year-old plants during the years 2020 and 2021. The observations and measurements are average values calculated from a larger sample size. Where color codes are included, these are based upon The Royal Horticultural Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition published in 2007 by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England. Firmness was measured with a BioWorks FirmTech 2 Fruit Firmness Tester.

-   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.         -   Vigor.—Strong.         -   Plant width.—Between 90-120 cm.         -   Plant height.—Between 120-150 cm.         -   Branching.—Moderate-high.         -   Productivity.—Very High: Average of 5.8 kg per plant on 2             years plants (Almonte, Spain).         -   Cold hardiness/tolerance.—Plant, flowers and fruit are hardy             to −2° C. (Up to date, ‘RB A097’ has not been tested under             cooler climate conditions.)         -   Chilling requirement.—<300 hours below 7° C.         -   Tendency toward evergreenness.—High.         -   Ease of propagation.—‘RB A097’ has been reliably propagated             asexually by softwood cuttings and was found to be stable.         -   Fruiting type.—On one-year-old and current season's shoots.         -   Resistance to disease/pests.—During the time of observations             and to date, no sensitivities to any disease or pests were             observed. -   Trunk and branches:     -   -   Immature cane length.—About 61 cm.         -   Immature cane diameter.—About 20.3 mm.         -   Immature cane color.—Yellow-Green Group N144B.         -   Immature cane texture.—Smooth.         -   Immature cane internode length.—About 2 to 4 cm.         -   Mature cane color.—Grey-Brown Group N199D.         -   Mature cane length.—About 58 cm.         -   Mature cane diameter.—About 32.5 mm.         -   Mature cane surface texture.—Coarse. -   Foliage:     -   -   Time of beginning of leaf bud burst.—Approximately second             week of February.         -   Leaf length (without petiole).—About 70 mm.         -   Leaf width (at widest point).—About 39 mm.         -   Leaf length: width ratio.—About 1.8.         -   Leaf color (topside).—Green Group N137B.         -   Leaf color (underside).—Green Group N138B.         -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire.         -   Leaf glaucosity on upper side.—Present.         -   Leaf pubescence on upper side.—Absent.         -   Leaf pubescence on lower side.—Present.         -   Leaf venation.—Acute, moderately reticulated.         -   Leaf apices.—Generally acute, approximately 50°.         -   Leaf bases.—Acute, approximately 45°.         -   Petiole length.—About 3 mm to 5 mm.         -   Petiole color.—Yellow-Green Group 148C.         -   Petiole pubescence.—Present. -   Flowers:     -   -   Time of beginning of flowering on 1-year-old             shoot.—Approximately 2^(nd) week of December.         -   Flowering period.—Approximately 16 weeks.         -   Number of flower clusters per fruiting shoot.—About 3 to 6,             average: 6.5.         -   Number of flowers per cluster.—About 4 to 8.         -   Fragrance.—Present, very weak.         -   Shape.—Urecolate.         -   Immature flower color.—Green-White Group157A.         -   Immature flower anthocyanin coloration.—Present, low.         -   Corolla color.—White Group 155C.         -   Corolla anthocyanin coloration.—Present, weak.         -   Corolla tube length.—About 9.4 mm.         -   Corolla tube width.—About 4.1 mm.         -   Corolla length: width ratio.—About 2.3.         -   Corolla aperture width.—About 3.8 mm.         -   Corolla ridges.—Present.         -   Number of petals.—About 5.         -   Petal length.—About 10.9 mm.         -   Petal width.—About 2.6 mm.         -   Peduncle color.—Green Group 144C.         -   Pedicle length.—About 55 mm.         -   Pedicle width.—About 1 mm.         -   Calyx diameter with sepals.—About 4 mm.         -   Calyx color.—Yellow-Green Group 144B.         -   Style length.—About 10.1 mm.         -   Style shape.—Bottle shaped.         -   Pistils.—Filaments adnate, with hairs more large at the top;             ratio pollensac:pollentube approximately 2:3.         -   Pistil length.—About 12 mm.         -   Pistil color.—Yellow-Green Group 145C.         -   Ovary color.—Yellow-Green Group 145C.         -   Stamen length.—About 6-7 mm.         -   Number of stamen per flower.—About 10.         -   Filament color.—Greyed-Orange Group N167A.         -   Anther length.—About 4 mm.         -   Anther number.—About 10.         -   Anther color.—Greyed-Orange Group 167A.         -   Pollen abundance.—Abundant.         -   Pollen color.—Yellow Group 8D.         -   Self-compatibility.—Moderate-high.         -   Time of beginning of flowering on current season             shoot.—Approximately 1^(st) week of June. -   Fruit:     -   -   General.—Fruit observations were taken at peak production             during 2020 and 2021.         -   Time of beginning of fruiting on 1-year-old             shoot.—Approximately at the end of February.         -   Time of end of fruiting on 1-year-old shoot.—Approximately             beginning of June.         -   Time of 50% fruiting on 1-year-old shoot.—Approximately             10^(th) of May.         -   Fruiting period on 1-year-old shoot.—Approximately 14 weeks.         -   Time of beginning of fruiting on current season             shoot.—Approximately beginning of July.         -   Intensity of fruiting on current season shoots.—Low.         -   Fruiting cluster density.—Dense.         -   Surface color of unripe berry with wax (bloom).—Yellow-Green             Group 150B.         -   Surface color of unripe berry without wax             (bloom).—Yellow-Green Group 150A.         -   Surface color of mature berry with wax             (bloom).—Greyed-Purple Group 186A.         -   Surface color of mature berry without wax (bloom).—Black             Group 203C.         -   Surface wax (bloom) intensity.—High.         -   Berry flesh color.—Green-Yellow Group 1C.         -   Berry weight.—About 3.2 g.         -   Berry shape.—Round-oblate.         -   Picking scar.—Small and dry.         -   Berry calyx depth.—Shallow.         -   Berry calyx width.—Narrow.         -   Berry attitude of sepals.—Incurving.         -   Berry height.—About 12.4 mm.         -   Berry width.—About 19.1 mm.         -   Berry height: width ratio.—About 0.6.         -   Berry firmness.—High (about 2072.22 g/mm).         -   Berry crunchiness.—Low.         -   Berry sweetness.—High (13.29° Brix).         -   Berry acidity.—Medium (0.48% titratable acidity).         -   Berry sweetness: acidity ratio.—About 30.3 (ratio B/A).         -   Berry texture.—Fleshy and juicy.         -   Berry flavor.—Very good, aromatic.         -   Storage quality.—Very good. -   Seed:     -   -   Number per berry.—About 60.         -   Color.—Greyed-Orange Group 164A.         -   Dry weight (1000 seed).—About 0.69 g.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Length.—About 1.1 to 2.0 mm.         -   Width.—About 0.4 to 0.6 mm.

Plants of the ‘RB A097’ variety have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat under different climatic conditions and cultural practices. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium) named ‘RB A097’ as illustrated and described herein. 